Device for feeding thread to knitting-machines



(No Model.) 1 J. R. BRIDGES.

DEVICE FOR FEEDING THREAD TO KNITTING MACHINES- No. 440,416.

Patented Nov. 11,1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN R. BRIDGES, OF FINDLAY, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE S. B. IVILKINSCOMPANY, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS.

DEVICE FOR FEEDING THREAD TO KNlTTlNG-MACHiNES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 440,416, dated November11,1890. Application filed August 12, 1887- Renewed October 9, 1890.Serial No. 367,603. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN R. BRIDGES, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Findlay, Hancock county, Ohio, have invented certainImprovements in Devices for Feeding Thread to Knitting-Machines, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide simple and effective meanswhereby either one or two threads may be fed to the needles of aknitting-machine, the change being effected instantly and, if desired,without any manipulation on the part of the attendant.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of thefeeding device, the parts being in position for feeding two threads.Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the parts in the position whichthey assume when but one thread is being fed to the needles. Fig. 3 is aside view, partly in section, showing the parts in the same position asin Fig.1; and Fig.4.- is a like View showing the parts in the sameposition as in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating means foroperating the cutting-lever of the device.

A is an arm constructed at the inner end for being secured to anyavailable bar or other support upon the knitting-machine, and having atthe front end a projecting plate a, with an eye I) for the passage ofthe thread or threads, and above and in the rear of this plate is atrough B, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

To a pin d on the armA is hunga lever D, one arm of which is preferablyprovided with a slot f for the reception of a pin on a suitableoperating-rod,the other arm of the lever being provided with a cuttingplate or knife g and an eye h for the thread m, which passes from saideye to the eye I) of the plate a. Another thread to passes through aneye m on the arm A, thence through an eye n at the upper end of thetrough, and thence through the latter to the eye I). WVhen both threadsare being fed to the machine, the parts are in the positions shown inFigs. 1 and 3, the eye 7L of the lever D occupying such position thatthe thread win its passage from said eye to the eye b passes through thetrough on top or alongside of the thread w. WVhen it is desired to stopthe feeding of the thread to to the machine, however, the lever D isbrought forward to the posit-ion shown in Fig. 4, and

said thread 20 is pressed against the plate a by the knife g, and issevered thereby, while the eye it is caused to assume such a position inrespect to the trough B that the thread a: is lifted out of the latter,so that its continued forward movement has no influence over the threadw. When the feeding of the two threads to the machine is to be resumed,the lever D is again adjusted to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3,which has the effect of again laying the thread w in the trough B incontact with the thread w, so that the latter is caused to partake ofthe forward movement of the thread (.6, and is carried into the machinethereby. Instead of the lever D, a pivoted arm to be operated by theattendant may be used, said arm carrying the knife and being heavyenough to insure the cutting of the thread on the descent of said arm,or the nipping of the thread so firmly between the bladegand the plateaas to insure the breaking of the thread between the machine and thepoint at which said thread is held; but I prefer to use the lever havinga second arm for connection to an operating-rod y, leading to somemoving part of the machine, so that the feed ing of either single ordouble threads may be effected automatically. For this purpose the rod yfor operating the lever D may be supported by the high links of apattern-chain 3 while the single thread is being used, and may bepermitted to drop from such high links when the double thread is to befed in, as shown, for instance, in the diagram, Fig. 5. The thread tomay, as will be evident, be fed directly over the upper end of thetrough, in- 1 stead of through the eye a, without affecting theoperation.

I claim as my invention- 1. In thread-feeding mechanism forknitting-machines, the combination of guideeyes for two threads, aninterposed trough or hearing for the threads, and an arm provided withmeans for nipping one of the threads, and having an end interposedbetween'the two threads, substantially as specified.

2. The combination of guideeyes for two threads, a trough interposedbetween said guide-eyes, and a pivoted arm having a cutting-knife and aguide-eye for one of the 5 threads, all substantially as specified.

3. The combination of guide-eyes for two threads, an interposed troughor bearing for said threads, and a lever having an arm carrying a guidefor one of said threads, and a IO cutting or nipping blade for the otherthread,

and a second arm, whereby said lever is operated, all substantially asspecified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JOHN R. BRIDGES. Witnesses:

D. O. JENKINS, C. W. KLEIN.

